Assisted Living Articles » Specific concerns
Is Assisted Living a good option for someone who has memory loss or impairment?
When looking into Assisted Living communities, keep in mind that not all of them offer all the same services:
- Some communities have developed services and programs designed specifically for people with mild or moderate mental frailty.
- Some have special programs or special areas of their building designed specifically for this need
- Other communities elect not to meet this aspect of aging; these communities may focus more on physical frailty.
Knowing the provider’s commitment to allowing a person to age in place with memory loss is critical to the process of choosing a senior care community.
Statistically, over half the people age 80 or older experience some type of cognitive impairment. It’s becoming more of a standard within Assisted Living to serve residents who need support with their schedules and their daily activities. Specialty Assisted Living communities exist which cater only to residents with dementia; however if you are dealing with a moderate to severe incapacity, the needs of older adult will require a more diligent review and discussion of the facilities programs and capabilities.
The first stages of this aging process aren’t necessarily recognizable, as they often affect less visible or noticeable things like the ability to keep a check book or to recall what has happened in the immediate, short-term past. And even memory loss caused by disease, illness or medications may not be easily discernable.
Older adults can and do run the gamut in their tolerance of other residents with memory loss. Some are fearful of losing their own mental capabilities and therefore, as a reaction to someone showing signs of memory loss, may be intolerant and avoid interaction with them. There are those older adults who are uncomfortable or become easily frustrated with people who have difficulties remembering things. If your loved one has memory loss, choosing a community that serves residents with memory loss is critical; and understanding the culture and residents present within the senior community will help clarify whether this is a good place to choose or not.
When a person with memory loss is taken out of their current living environment, it is possible that the older adult will display increased signs of confusion and inability to function without help for a period of time. This is because the person has fallen into a routine where processes no longer required them to think. They were in a comfortable routine, and they were functioning with parts of their brain that did not require them to engage their cognitive thought processes.
A very large and real stress for the person moving is getting to know all the new systems surrounding a new living environment; everything from how to turn on the faucet to what time to be where for which meal has changed. It takes time for the person to return to a routine once again. If the senior is memory challenged, this process can take longer than you may think. These new habits will have to form their own path and being in the right type of environment to foster that learning is crucial to its success.
If a person is displaying signs of memory loss, it is likely the memory impairment is further along than family members recognize. All of us are quite adept at masking our shortcoming. Older adults work hard at disguising their memory loss or covering up their limitations by employing tactics which diminish our awareness of their frailty. Many times these cover-ups are just the coping mechanism that automatically kicks in to compensate for the impairment.
Older adults employ many different tactics to try to divert attention from their impairment:
- Humor to try to avoid any focus being applied to their diminished capacity
- Attempt to play upon emotions of guilt for talking about their frailty
- Make excuses for specific incidents of memory loss
- Denial of the problem completely
- Avoidance: becoming reclusive or feigning illness to avoid interactions with other people.
The time to help an older adult arrange for support services in the home or to arrange a move to a senior care community is before a crisis occurs. By making the move earlier in the process rather than later, a person has a greater likelihood of returning to a level of comfortable routine. And, as the memory loss increases, there are new friends, staff and support systems in place to help assist with their changing needs.
As an older adult’s mental wellness begins to fade, the family or responsible parties have an increased need to advocate and speak for the older adult. Our understanding of the aging process and its impact on mental abilities is still in the early stages. Medical professionals and service providers are also in the infancy stages of quickly and decisively being able to identify memory loss and knowing how best to treat and serve this need. Older adults are living longer, which means the prevalence of dementia and other memory loss due to disease, illness and aging requires continued research, discussion and education.
When appropriately investigated, Assisted Living can likely be a favorable alternative to living alone. Although not likely to be enthusiastic about a move, most seniors appreciate the support and lifestyle Assisted Living affords. As services are focused on one specific location, and because Assisted Living offers an independent lifestyle with supportive living and safety nets in place, many older adults find Assisted Living to be much more pleasant than what they first imagine it to be.
Simply exposing an older adult to the possibilities of making a move to Assisted Living is going to be very helpful. They likely have fears of being placed in a nursing home, and don’t fully understand the positive energy of living around other people who are understanding and watchful of their personal needs. Enjoying a meal or taking part in an activity is a good way to introduce a person to an Assisted Living community.
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Last update: 2007-04-11 02:15
Author: Tech Support
Revision: 1.0
